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Treat Spinal Compression Fractures Without Surgery
- Pain Medicine. You can often get relief with an over-the counter drug like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. ...
- Rest. You don't want to overdo it with activity, but you also don't want to stop moving entirely. ...
- Physical Therapy. Once you're feeling better, ask your doctor if you should join a rehab program or work with a physical therapist.
- Bracing. ...
How to treat spinal compression fractures without surgery?
Symptoms of Compression Fractures. Symptoms of compression fractures that occur after the injury can include: Midline focal and sharp back pain in the area of the injury; Increased pain when standing or walking; Decreased pain when lying on back; Limited spinal movement; Eventual loss of height; Potential spinal deformity with time
What are the symptoms of a compression fracture?
The telltale symptoms for spinal compression fractures include:
- Loss of height
- Sudden back pain
- Loss of spinal mobility
- Height loss (severe cases)
- Increased pain while upright
- Decreased pain while laying down
- Spinal deformity and disabilities (severe cases)
What you should know about spinal compression fractures?
A compression fracture is most likely to be caused by serious trauma to the spine, particularly in the case of falling from an extreme height. Because of the force necessary to cause compression fractures, they often occur in tandem with other injuries, including damage to the spinal cord and severe ligament damage.
What causes a compression fracture?
How long does a back compression fracture take to heal?
Compression fractures usually heal on their own in about 3 months. While that happens, your doctor may suggest you try some things at home that can make you feel better, such as pain medicines, rest, physical therapy, or a back brace.
Is a compression fracture in the back serious?
Spine compression fractures are serious, and they can cause painful or debilitating symptoms that interfere with your quality of life. Fortunately, treatment can help repair the damage and relieve symptoms.
Can a compression fracture be cured?
If you are experiencing pain stemming from your middle or lower spine, then you may have a vertebral compression fracture. Fortunately, compression fractures can be corrected using advanced procedures and treatment methods performed by qualified interventional radiologists.
Can you walk with a compression fracture in your back?
Compression fracture symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people may not have symptoms. Their provider may discover the fracture when they do an X-ray for another condition. But many people are unable to stand or walk without pain.
What is the best treatment for a compression fracture?
Treatment of compression fractures may include medicine, rest, a back brace, or physical therapy. Sometimes, surgery is needed. The risk of new fractures can be reduced by doing regular weight-bearing exercises that increase strength, and balance exercises that reduce the risk for falls.
How long does it take for a compression fracture to stop hurting?
Pain from a spinal compression fracture allowed to heal naturally can last as long as three months. But the pain usually improves significantly in a matter of days or weeks. Pain management may include analgesic pain medicines, bed rest, back bracing, and physical activity.
What happens if a compression fracture goes untreated?
If left untreated, the fractured vertebra can eventually collapse causing pain, limited mobility, and deformity. These fractures are most common in the thoracic spine, which is below the upper body and centered in the middle of the back.
Is bed rest good for compression fracture?
In conclusion, the short term bed rest period is recommended in compression fracture patients to reduce the treatment period and inconvenience of the patients.
How painful is a spinal compression fracture?
Some people feel almost no symptoms from spinal compression fractures. The cracks may happen so gradually that the pain is relatively mild or unnoticeable. For others, the pain may turn into a chronic backache in the injured area.
How do you sleep with a compression fracture?
Sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees. This will decrease pressure on your back. You may also sleep on your side with 1 or both of your knees bent and a pillow between them. It may also be helpful to sleep on your stomach with a pillow under you at waist level.
What is compression fracture?
What is a Compression Fracture? A compression fracture is a type of broken bone that can cause your vertebrae to collapse, making them shorter. This often happens to the front of the vertebrae but not the back, causing you to stoop forward over time.Compression fractures are caused by:
How to reduce risk of fracture?
You can reduce your risk for a compression fracture by taking a few key steps , similar to the precautions for avoiding osteoporosis: Consume enough vitamin D and calcium — including such calcium-rich foods as milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, sardines and broccoli.
How to prevent bone loss?
Take medications to prevent bone loss or spur bone growth, as prescribed by your doctor (fracture patients are at high risk for additional fractures) Stop smoking, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and some types of cancer that can spread to the bones. Avoid excessive drinking.
Does lying on your back make it worse?
Slowly worsening back pain — lying on your back may relieve the pain and standing may make it worse. Decreased height. Stooped-over posture. Numbness or tingling, weak muscles, problems walking and (possible) trouble controlling your bowels or bladder because of nerve damage.
Can a compression fracture cause back pain?
If a compression fracture develops quickly, you may feel sudden, severe back pain. A fracture doesn’t always cause immediate symptoms, though. Instead, your doctor may notice it when giving you an X-ray for another reason.When a compression fracture starts harming vertebrae, you may feel: Slowly worsening back pain — lying on your back may relieve ...
Overview
Compression fractures are small breaks or cracks in the vertebrae (the bones that make up your spinal column). The breaks happen in the vertebral body, which is the thick, rounded part on the front of each vertebra. Fractures in the bone cause the spine to weaken and collapse. Over time, these fractures affect posture.
Symptoms and Causes
Compression fracture symptoms range from mild to severe. Some people may not have symptoms. Their provider may discover the fracture when they do an X-ray for another condition. But many people are unable to stand or walk without pain. Symptoms of a fractured spine include:
Diagnosis and Tests
To diagnose a compression fracture, your provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. During the exam, your provider:
Management and Treatment
Compression fracture treatment focuses on relieving pain, stabilizing the bones in the spine and preventing another fracture. Depending on the severity of the fracture and your overall health, treatment may include:
Prevention
You may not always be able to prevent compression fractures. To reduce your risk of a compression fracture from osteoporosis, you should:
Living With
If you have sudden back pain that doesn’t get better after a day or two, see your provider. It’s important to get an evaluation for back pain so your provider can determine the cause and plan treatment. Call your provider right away if you’re over 65 or you have osteoporosis or a history of cancer.
What causes a compression fracture in the back?
Other possible causes of compression fractures of the back include: physical trauma to your back. a tumor that either originates in your spine or a tumor that spreads to your spinal area (relatively rare) congenital disease such as osteogenesis imperfecta. infection (osteomyelitis) of the vertebra.
What is compression fracture?
A compression fracture of the back occurs when the bones of your spine (vertebrae) collapse. This can lead to poor posture, pain, loss of height, and a variety of other symptoms.
How to diagnose compression fractures?
Diagnosing a Compression Fracture of the Back. Your doctor will first examine you to see if your spine is curved or if you have developed a hump on your back. The doctor will then use a CT scan, an MRI, an X-ray, or a bone density test to check for osteoporosis.
How do you know if you have a spinal fracture?
These fractures may also cause you to stoop over, develop a hump on your back (kyphosis), and lose up to 6 inches in height as your vertebrae compress. The following symptoms are rare, but they are caused by pressure on your spinal chord due to poor posture: numbness or tingling in your limbs or other areas of your body.
How to heal a fractured spine?
bed rest to help your body heal. physical therapy to help strengthen your core muscles and spinal support muscles. a back brace, which can help support your spine. calcium supplements to prevent additional bone problems and future compression fractures. medications to induce new bone formation.
What happens if you have a tumor in your fracture?
If a tumor caused your fracture, the underlying cause of the tumor (lung cancer, for example) must be treated and the tumor removed. Your outlook will depend on the type of tumor that caused your condition. Last medically reviewed on January 11, 2016.
How to lengthen your spine?
lengthening your spine by injecting a special kind of cement (vertebroplasty) into the space between your vertebrae. If your fractures are caused by a back injury, your surgeon may need to fuse some of your vertebrae together to relieve pain and pressure on your nerves.
How long does it take for a compression fracture to heal?
Compression fractures tend to heal completely in about 8 to 12 weeks. 5 Patients who have one compression fracture are much more likely to have more, and, therefore, prevention of future compression fractures must be addressed.
Why is the back of my spine compressed?
Nerve complaints are unusual in compression fractures because the spine and its nerves are behind the vertebra, and, as mentioned above, the front of the vertebra is compressed, and the back remains normal. In some serious traumatic fractures, called "burst fractures," the compression occurs around the spinal cord and nerves.
What is the most common type of vertebral fracture?
The most common type of vertebral fracture is called a compression fracture. A compression fracture occurs when the normal vertebral body of the spine is squished, or compressed, to a smaller height. This injury tends to happen in three groups of people: 1 . People who are involved in traumatic accidents. When a load placed on the vertebrae ...
Why do people with osteoporosis have compression fractures?
This is much more commonly the cause. Osteoporosis is a condition that causes a thinning of the bone. As the bone thins out, it is less able to support a load. Therefore, patients with osteoporosis may develop compression fractures without severe injuries, even in their daily activities.
What is the procedure to stabilize a fractured vertebra?
If the pain is severe, and collapse is becoming problematic, a procedure called vertebroplasty may be considered. In this procedure, a physician injects cement into the vertebra to stabilize the fracture and prevent further collapse. Sometimes, the height of the bone may be restored as well. 4 .
What is the most common symptom of a compression fracture?
Back pain is by far the most common symptom in patients with a compression fracture. You may experience sudden, severe back pain, or it may be more gradual in onset. In more severe traumatic injuries, the cause of the compression fracture is clear. In other situations where the bone is weakened by osteoporosis or another condition, ...
What is burst fracture?
In some serious traumatic fractures, called "burst fractures," the compression occurs around the spinal cord and nerves. This is more serious and may require immediate treatment to prevent or relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. 3 .
What is the procedure for spinal compression fracture?
Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty. These procedures for spinal compression fractures involve small, minimally invasive incisions, so they require very little healing time. They also use acrylic bone cement that hardens quickly, stabilizing the spinal bone fragments and therefore stabilizing the spine immediately.
How long does a spinal compression fracture last?
Nonsurgical Treatment for Spinal Compression Fractures. Pain from a spinal compression fracture allowed to heal naturally can last as long as three months. But the pain usually improves significantly in a matter of days or weeks. Pain management may include analgesic pain medicines, bed rest, back bracing, and physical activity.
How to fix a fractured vertebrae?
Vertebroplasty. This procedure is effective for relieving pain from spinal compression fractures and helping to stabilize the fracture. During this procedure: 1 A needle is inserted into the damaged vertebrae. 2 X-rays help ensure that it's done with accuracy. 3 The doctor injects a bone cement mixture into the fractured vertebrae. 4 The cement mixture hardens in about 10 minutes. 5 The patient typically goes home the same day or after a one-night hospital stay.
What are the drawbacks of spinal fusion surgery?
There are drawbacks to spinal fusion surgery. It eliminates the natural movement of the two vertebrae, which limits the person's movement. Also , it puts more stress on vertebrae next to the fusion - increasing the chance of fracture in those vertebrae.
What is the best treatment for osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis treatment. Bone-strengthening drugs such as bisphosphonates (such as Actonel, Boniva, and Fosamax) help stabilize or restore bone loss. This is a critical part of treatment to help prevent further compression fractures. Surgical Treatment for Spinal Compression Fractures. When chronic pain from a spinal compression fracture persists ...
How long does it take for a patient to recover from a spinal surgery?
Activity level is gradually increased. Depending on the patient's age and health status, getting back to normal functioning can happen within two months or up to six months later.
What is the best pain medication for nerve pain?
Two types of non-prescription medications -- acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ( NSAIDs) -- are recommended. Narcotic pain medications and muscle relaxants are often prescribed for short periods of time, since there is risk of addiction. Antidepressants can also help relieve nerve-related pain.
Causes
There are many possible causes of a compression fracture but conditions put some at more risk than others. For example, people with severe osteoporosis, are more susceptible to a compression fracture from normal everyday activities like sneezing or lifting a small object.
Non-Surgical Treatment Methods
Over the counter (ie: NSAIDs) or prescription strength (ie: muscle relaxants) pain medication may be used to help treat the pain resulting from a compression fracture.
Surgical Treatment Methods
If non-surgical treatment methods have not been effective in treating the pain, surgical methods may be considered. However, a doctor will weigh factors such as medical history, response to conservative treatments, and other underlying conditions before recommending surgery.
What does a compression fracture mean?
Spinal compression fractures can signal the end of pain-free mobility for those who experience them. Often due to loss of bone density (osteoporosis) and strength, a compression fracture occurs when weakened vertebra in your spine begin to break or splinter with normal activity, such as walking.
Can a fracture cause a spinal cord to collapse?
However, even mild fractures can cause the affected vertebrae to lose height and collapse into surrounding spinal structures. Bone may press on the spinal cord and nerves, often causing severe pain and limiting the flow of oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood to the spine.
Can a compression fracture cause numbness?
If the fracture occurs suddenly, you may also feel abrupt, severe, and disabling back pain. Compression fractures can also cause numbness and tingling in the legs, muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and problems controlling your bowels or bladder due to nerve damage.
What is the best treatment for spinal compression fracture?
The two most successful surgical treatment types for spinal compression fractures are: Kyphoplasty: Patients undergoing this minimally invasive surgery will have a thin tube called a catheter inserted in the back into the damaged vertebrae by their orthopedic surgeon.
What is spinal compression fracture?
A common injury among older adults is called a spinal compression fracture, which occurs when one or more of the spinal bones, called vertebrae, collapse. These fractures can happen to anyone, but are more common among older women with osteoporosis. In fact, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons estimates that spinal compression fractures affect as many as 1 in every 4 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in the U.S. and as many as 40% of women age 80 and older. Unfortunately, those who have had one osteoporotic spinal compression fracture have a fivefold risk of having another, making it very important to reduce the likelihood of falls.
How to heal a spinal fracture?
Many who suffer a spinal compression fracture heal with nonsurgical treatments. Your orthopedic/spine specialist may recommend physical therapy, a well-fitted back brace, pain medication, bone density stabilizing medication, and activity modifications. Your doctor will also help advise how to prevent future falls if it was a fall ...
How long does it take for a vertebrae to harden?
Bone cement mixture is injected into the fractured vertebrae, which hardens in about 10 minutes. Vertebroplasty is effective at relieving pain and stabilizing spinal compression fractures.
Can osteoporosis cause back pain?
You don’t have to live with unexplained back pain. If you are a postmenopausal woman, you may not even realize you have osteoporosis until sustaining a fracture, so it is best to have an evaluation from an orthopedic physician to treat the fracture itself and the underlying osteoporosis. Treatment for osteoporosis involves any combination of the following: calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, prescribed exercise, and hormone replacement therapy.
What to do if you have a compression fracture?
You want to ease the pain, heal the fracture, and treat the osteoporosis that weakened your bones and caused them to collapse .
How long does it take for a compression fracture to heal?
Compression fractures usually heal on their own in about 3 months. While that happens, your doctor may suggest you try some things at home that can make you feel better, such as pain medicines, rest, physical therapy, or a back brace.
Why do you wear a back brace?
Wearing a back brace when you have a spinal compression fracture is similar to wearing a cast when you have a broken arm. It's made of a rigid frame that takes pressure off the painful bone and limits your movement. It gives your injured vertebrae -- the small bones that make up your spinal column -- time to heal.
How long does it take to get back into your routine after a sprain?
After several days or as soon as you start to feel better, gradually ease back into your old routine. For a few weeks or months you may still need to avoid heavy exercise that could make your injury worse. Ask your doctor when it's safe for you to get active again and what the best ways to get moving are.
What is the best medicine for pain?
Pain Medicine. You can often get relief with an over-the counter drug like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Check with your doctor to see which one is right for you. Your doctor might prescribe a stronger medicine for more intense or persistent pain. The doctor might also suggest you take the hormone calcitonin.
Does bracing help with compression fractures?
There isn't much research to prove that a brace helps heal compression fractures, but one study shows it can ease pain. Prevent Further Fractures. In the short term, treatments like pain medicines, physical therapy, and bracing might help ease your pain and get you moving again.
